Scipio Africanus

Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (236 BC-183 BC) was a Consul of the Roman Republic from 205 to 204 BC and from 194 to 193 BC, as well as a Roman general during the Punic Wars and the Roman-Seleucid War. Africanus was known as one of the greatest military commanders in history, conquering Hispania and defeating the renowned Carthaginian general Hannibal at the Battle of Zama in 203 BC.

Biography
Publius Cornelius Scipio, known as Scipio Africanus, was the Roman commander who won the Second Punic War. He was 17 years old when the war began and fought in an army commanded by his father, also named Publius Cornelius Scipio, at the Ticino River in the opening skirmish of Hannibal's Italian campaign. He came through the Battle of Cannae unscathed, distinguishing himself in the rallying of survivors after the Roman debacle, but his career remained in the shadow of his father until the elder Publius was killed in 211 BC while on campaign in Iberia.

Scipio took over his father's command under unpropitious circumstances, for Roman fortunes in Spain were at a low ebb. In just four years, he extinguished the Carthaginian presence in Iberia. A bold and charismatic leader, he pursued an aggressive strategy using speed of movement to puy Carthaginian forces at a disadvantage. He took their main base at Nova Carthago by assault in a surprise attack in 209 BC, following up with a victory over Hannibal's brother, Hasdrubal Barca, at Baecula.

The Carthaginians responded by sending reinforcements into southern Spain. This led to the major battle of Ilipa in 206 BC, seen as Scipio's tactical masterpiece. Both armies consisted of troops of various origins and capabilities. Normal policy was for both sides to arrang etheir battle lines so that like fought like. But Scipio unexpectedly switched his formidable infantry from the center to the wings, where they faced the Carthaginians' least effective troops. Maneuvering with consummate skill, these legionaries smashed the Carthaginians' line, moving inward from the flanks.

With Iberia conquered, Scipio returned to rome a hero. He was elected consul and given permission to lead an army to Africa, where he planned to threaten Carthage. Crossing to Tunisia, he established himself outside the city and refused to be driven off. This brought Hannibal back from Italy and to his defeat at Zama, which forced the Carthaginians to sue for peace. Aside from supporting his brother Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus in the defeat of Antiochus III of Syria in 190 BC, Scipio carried out no further military deeds of note, and he died in 183 BC.